FRINGILLID.E — THE FINCHES. 



123 



shade, and washed with grayish ; iiiidiUe of the belly only whitish ; the under tail-coverts 

 pale rufous, shading into lighter about the vent and sides of lower belly; chin and throat 

 well-d(Tiiied pale rufous, margined all rouuil by brown spots, a few of them scattered 



Pipila fuicuf., var cmsalis. 



within the margin. Eyelids and sides of head, anterior to the eye, rufous like the throat. 

 One or two feathers on the lower part of the breast with a concealed brown blotch. 

 Outer primary not edged with white. Fifth quill longest; first shorter than ninth, or 

 even than secondaries. Bill pale broAvn. darker above : legs light. Length, 8.50 inches ; 

 wing, 4.00 ; tail, 4.60. 



Hab. Coast region of California. 



The Ijill is sinuated, as in F. aberii, differing from that of P. e7\i/throph- 

 thalmus. 



Tliis race is very similar to the original P. fuscns of Mexico, the original 

 description of Swaiuson answering almost e.Kactly. It is, however, consider- 

 ably larger ; the proportions of wing are similar; and there is no decided in- 

 dication of whitish in the middle of the body beneath, such as is always 

 distinctly appreciable in fii.<<cif.<;, and still more in mesoh'umis. 



A young bird differs but little from the adult except in ha^■ing obsolete 

 dusky streaks below ; the upper parts are uniform. 



H.VBITS. The Brown, or Canon Finch of California is found nearly 

 throughout the State of California. Mr. Xantus obtained it at Fort Tejon, 

 and IMr. Eidgway observed it among the chaparrals on the foothills of the 

 western slope of the Sierras. 



Dr. Cooper considers the name of Canon Finch ill applied to this species, 

 as it is equally plentiful in level districts, wherever trees and shrubbery 

 exist. He regards it as one of the most abundant and characteristic 

 birds of California, residing in all the lower cotmtry west of the Sierras, and 

 extending up the slopes of the Coast Eange to the height of three thousand 

 feet. Tliey are said to have habits very similar to those of all the other 

 species, living much upon the ground, and seeking their food among the 



